‘Extremely weird and sorry, but I could eat him for breakfast, lunch and tea!’
‘Gracie Davies!’
Gracie laughed. ‘In my dreams. Anyway, I don’t do sloppy seconds.’
Naomi screwed up her face. ‘Ew. See you in a while, little sis. And don’t ever say I don’t make your life just that little bit more exciting.’
Gracie read a few chapters of her new book, then slipped it down next to her as she drifted off into a wonderful sun-induced slumber.
She was woken an hour later by the sound of her favourite song, ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams, blasting out of the poolside sound system. As she came to, a glass of champagne was being placed rather clumsily on the table next to her by a freshly showered and edible-smelling Leo Grant.
Sitting up with a start, she grabbed her sunglasses and put them on.
‘I love this tune, man.’ Leo began to dance, and, feeling uncomfortable watching, Gracie stood up, her sarong draped low on her hips, her flowery bikini top showing off her buxom chest. Swimming every day had toned her waist and her tan gave her a radiant glow. Despite having a slight red mark on her cheek from sleeping, she looked naturally beautiful.
She sipped from her glass of champagne and began to move to the music, too.
‘I’m having this track at my funeral,’ Leo shouted over the music. ‘And I want everyone to be wearing bright colours and dancing in the aisles. It’s just one of those songs.’
Kingston came out and topped up their glasses.
Gracie laughed as the handsome actor took her by the hand and swung her round.
‘Forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn, but it’s so refreshing to see a proper womanly body for a change. I get bored of all these long, skinny women.’
Gracie found Leo’s Texan drawl hypnotic. ‘But you’re dating a supermodel, aren’t you, so you can’t say that.’
‘Risella, you mean? She’s OK, but she’s Miss Right Now, that’s all.’ He downed more champagne. ‘Good job my PR’s not here, me saying that out loud, but something tells me I can trust you, Grace, or you wouldn’t be here at all.’
‘I’m like the Bermuda Triangle of secrets, me.’ Gracie grinned as the track ended and Aretha Franklin’s beautiful voice started to sing ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’. ‘Oh wow, I love this song.’
‘Me too. So good. Let’s sit.’ Leo led her by the hand to the covered verandah where a huge citrus candle was burning and rose petals had been sprinkled on the circular wooden table.
She would wake up in a minute, Gracie thought. This was just all so surreal.
‘Are you the sister who was in hospital last year? Naomi mentioned it in an email.’
Bless him for remembering, Gracie thought as she nodded.
‘Nothing serious, I hope?’
She felt she had nothing to lose being truthful with this man. Their worlds were so far apart.
‘It was quite serious, actually. I had to have a hysterectomy.’
‘That’s shit, man. Do you have any children?’
‘No, I was pregnant and lost twins and that led me to losing my womb.’
‘That’s so sad. I’m sorry, Grace. Shit happens to the nicest people.’
Gracie tried to smile but her emotions welled up.
‘Hey,’ Leo said tenderly as a tear escaped from her eyes. He wiped it away with his little finger. ‘You’re so sweet, you make my teeth hurt.’
‘You don’t even know me,’ was all Gracie could muster. And then it happened. Leo Alfredo Grant, handsome Hollywood actor, father to her beautiful nephew, leant forward and kissed her right on the lips.
She broke away. Her tears seemed to have decided to take on a life of their own. ‘I’d better go and shower. Noms and Jack will be waiting for me.’
